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Chick-fil-A causing controversy for anti-gay marriage remarks

This week&rsquo;s firestorm caused by Chick-fil-A, an Atlanta-based fast food chain, has been nothing short of astounding.

The signs of a Chick-fil-A are seen July 26 in Springfield, Virginia. (Alex Wong / GETTY IMAGES)

By Laura StoneStaff Reporter

Fri., July 27, 2012

It has drawn the ire of gay rights groups, the mayor of Boston and the Muppets. It has been defended with religious fervour by Rick Santorum and Billy Graham.

It has become the symbol of grief, after the company’s head spokesman died suddenly Friday, reportedly of a heart attack.

It is, at its core, a debate about freedom of speech and human rights. That, and a chicken sandwich.

This week’s firestorm caused by Chick-fil-A, an Atlanta-based fast food chain, is a sign of a nation deeply divided over the issue of gay marriage — like two sides of a toasted buttered bun.

Even Tim Thomas, the Boston Bruins goalie, has weighed in on the side of Chick-fil-A.

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The controversy erupted when Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy recently took a public position against same-sex marriage.

Cathy told the Baptist Press that the company was “guilty as charged” for backing “the biblical definition of the family.”

And in a later interview, he said Americans were “inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say, ‘We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage.’” He called same-sex marriage supporters prideful and arrogant.

It didn’t go over well.

Cathy later said his company would leave the policy debate to the government and political arena, but it was too late.

Gay rights activists immediately fought back, publicizing $3 million in contributions that the Cathy family foundation has made to conservative organizations.

“This solidifies Chick-fil-A as being closely aligned with some of the most vicious anti-gay voices in the country,” said Carlos Maza of Equality Matters, which campaigns for LGBT rights.

The Jim Henson Co. pulled its Muppet toys from Chick-fil-A kids’ meals. The company said it has “celebrated and embraced diversity and inclusiveness for over 50 years” and directed revenue from the toys to GLAAD, a leading gay rights organization.

Then there was the swift political reaction. Chicago Alderman Joe Moreno vowed to block a Chick-fil-A proposed in his district, and Mayor Rahm Emanuel supported him, saying, “Chick-fil-A values are not Chicago values.” San Francisco also joined the fray.

Even more scathing was the public rebuke from Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. He wrote a letter that was posted on a Boston community page on Facebook and by Wednesday had been “liked” by more than 131,000 users and shared more than 46,000 times.

In it, Menino derided Cathy for “prejudiced statements” against same-sex marriage, which has been legal in Massachusetts since 2004.

“Now — incredibly — your company says you are backing out of the same-sex marriage debate. I urge you to back out of your plans to locate in Boston,” Menino wrote in the letter.

Chick-fil-A has never hidden its Southern Baptist roots. Since Dan Cathy’s father, Truett, opened the first Chick-fil-A in 1967, the restaurants famous for chicken, waffle fries and peach milkshakes have stayed closed on Sundays and most of the 1,600 locations are situated across the Bible Belt.

The company — which last week said its culture is “to treat every person with honour, dignity and respect — regardless of their belief, creed, race, sexual orientation or gender” — has also seen its share of high-profile supporters.

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, a Baptist minister, declared next Wednesday “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day” to support a business “whose executives are willing to take a stand for the Godly values.”

Rick Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator and one-time Republican presidential hopeful, joined the cause along with religious leaders such as Rev. Billy Graham.

Even New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a strong supporter of same-sex marriage, disagreed with his counterparts in Boston, Chicago and San Francisco and said the restaurant’s flap is none of “the government’s business.”

As the public relations firestorm continued, Chick-fil-A announced Friday that its public relations vice-president had died.

Don Perry was the chief spokesman for the fast-food chain who worked for the company nearly 29 years. He helped lead the company’s response to the same-sex marriage controversy.

The cause of death wasn’t immediately released but local media reported it as a heart attack.

It appears the saga over the sandwich is far from over. Next Friday, gay rights groups plan a “kiss in” at Chick-fil-A restaurants across the country.

With files from The Associated Press

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